MERRY CHRISTMAS (posted in advance for 12/25/11)

Today is the first time Christmas falls on a Sunday since I have been a pastor, and, I must confess, it has changed my perspective to some extent. While it has made things more complicated for scheduling family Christmas celebrations, it is also very special in many ways. For one, we have the opportunity to gather as a church family and celebrate together on Christmas day. I hope that is a great joy for us all!

On top of that, I hope that we are more oriented toward worship this Christmas, as we gather and worship through song, special music, and to hear the Word of God. Through and through, this service presents the mystery and joy of Christmas: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV) I hope our time together today sets the tone for all of our Christmas celebrations. Christmas is, after all, a grand celebration of Christ’s birth! I hope you don’t neglect to read the Christmas story. I hope it never grows old. I hope you never lose the sense of wonder and God’s gift of grace and mercy in Jesus Christ!

No doubt, we will all set aside time to be with family, to have a special Christmas dinner, and to exchange gifts. Perhaps we will even think about the tradition of giving gifts, following the example of the wise men / magi, who presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. But, when the wise men came, their purpose wasn’t to present gifts … it was to worship:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2 ESV—emphasis mine)

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11 ESV—emphasis mine)

So, this Christmas, as you celebrate, don’t forget to worship Christ, the newborn King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And, may you have a truly merry Christmas!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

DISTANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS

On Thursday, a friend from Grand Rapids came to Lapeer and met me for lunch and for a bit of counsel. He has a lot going on and wanted help sorting things out. Since coming to Dayton Center, we’ve talked on the phone a few times, exchanged e-mails once in a while, and chatted on Facebook a time or two. In many ways, we had grown apart because of the distance. But, when we met for lunch, our friendship was quickly renewed.

I suspect that we all have a story like that one. Perhaps you were really close to someone when one of you moved away. And, while such things as Facebook, e-mail and Skype can bridge a distance, they can never match spending time together in person. While things will never be the same as they were, you may have been able to restore some aspect of the relationship. But, let’s face it, relationships take time and effort.

This also translates into our relationship with God. Sometimes events and trials come in our lives, and we feel distant from God. Perhaps, our devotions and/or prayer life have taken a hit, and we’ve not spent the time with God that we know we ought. Or, worse, maybe there’s sin that hasn’t been dealt with that has caused a barrier in our relationship with God. In all these cases, it’s not that God has moved away from us, but we may have pulled away from Him. If you’ve experienced some drifting away in your relationship with God, take the time today to set things right. God is always waiting for you to reconnect with Him!

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Jam 4:8)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25 ESV)

And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:21-22 ESV)

Always remember, God never leaves or forsakes His children!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

SNOW

Snow … to some, it’s just another “four-letter word.” I must admit that I enjoyed the snow much more when I was downhill skiing once a week, back in Grand Rapids. There are also those times of riding my nephews’ snowmobiles. But now, when the snow falls, it doesn’t mean fun. Instead, it means breaking out the shovel and getting some needed, although unwanted, exercise. It’s easy to think of all the negatives—the work, the road conditions, etc. But, if we’re not careful, we may miss out on the beauty of it all. This is where I have Bea Butler to thank. On Wednesday night, Bea commented on the beauty of the snow. That simple comment made a difference for me, and I hope it does for you.

Though the view out of my study windows is partially blocked by snow, I can see the trees in the distance that are laden with snow. Instead of the usually brown field, it is now mostly white. In addition, I’m pretty sure I saw a bald eagle on Wednesday. If it had landed in a field that was brown, it would have blended in. But, because the field was snow covered, it stood out and I could take a good look with my binoculars. Yes, the snow still requires shoveling, but I have been reminded of it’s beauty.

May we never forget that God created the beauty of nature. It screams out, “God exists!” and “God is glorious!”

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (Psa 19:1-3 ESV)

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made… (Rom 1:20 ESV)

Even if you don’t like the snow, you have to admit that it can be a beautiful sight from time to time. Today, I hope that you notice the beauty of God’s creation and it drives you to worship Him!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker